Gum and candy manufacturer Perfetti Van Melle has signed a licensing partnership with Rovio to develop an extensive range of Angry Birds branded Chupa Chups products across global markets.
The deal is timed to be in place for the September 2019 theatrical release of The Angry Birds Movie 2, the sequel to the 2016 blockbuster The Angry Birds Movie that generated $352 million at the global box office.
Marta Poal, Perfetti Van Melle’s international area manager, said: “Perfetti Van Melle, the owner of Chupa Chups, is excited to be working with the much-loved Angry Birds brand for 2019. In addition to offering one of the strongest IPs in entertainment, Rovio is unique for delivering world-class digital innovation and exciting new content. Consumers will want to stay tuned to experience what we are preparing for them.”
Perfetti Van Melle distributes candies and chewing gum in more than 150 countries across five continents and, along with Chupa Chups, its portfolio includes Mentos, Aiheads, Fruittella and Alpenliebe.
“We are thrilled to have Chupa Chups to join our already impressive list of key strategic partners," said Simo Hämäläinen, senior vice president, brand licensing at Rovio Entertainment. “There has never been a better time to partner with Rovio and the Angry Birds. We have the strongest long-term content roadmap that we’ve ever had.
“It’s driven by The Angry Birds Movie 2 in 2019, followed by long-form animation, live and stage shows and location based entertainment projects.’’
Chupa Chups was launched in Spain in 1958 and accounts for one out of every four lollipops sold in the world, according to Perfetti Van Melle.
The privately owned candy manufacturer is one of the top 10 confectionery groups in the world and has recently expanded its footprint into new categories through brand licensing.